Brighten a Christmas family caught in-between

Nov. 23, 2012

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News Journal

The 2012 holiday season marks the 66th year of the annual Brighten A Christmas program in Mansfield. / News Journal

ABOUT BRIGHTEN A CHRISTMAS

Brighten a Christmas was established 64 years ago. The program is a collaboration among agencies, nonprofit groups and the News Journal, each doing its part to help readers extend a caring hand to neighbors during the holiday season.

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MANSFIELD — The family in Case No. 1 of Brighten a Christmas finds itself in a precarious position.

The parents make too much money to receive assistance, yet not enough to purchase some necessities and Christmas gifts for the four children.

The mother has worked for Richland Newhope’s Early Education Center for nine years. The four children in the family have a variety of medical problems. The 11-year-old son has cerebral palsy. He also suffers from sleep apnea.

Two of the other children struggle with speech impediments, and the 12-year-old daughter has numerous allergies.

The family matriarch is hoping for a desktop computer to use for school and for her children. Her husband is asking only for work clothes.

The 17-year-old son is the oldest of the children. He would like clothes and boots.

On the 12-year-old’s wish list are a small laptop computer and boots.

The youngest children, the 11-year-old boy and girl, are asking for an outside basketball hoop and a bicycle and boots, respectively.

Other family needs include pots and pans, dishes, towels of all sizes, baskets and any household items. The family’s dining room table also recently broke.

Mom wears a size 16-18 for pants, shirts and T-shirts. She takes extra large for underwear, a winter coat, and hats and gloves. In addition, she wears size 8 1/2 to 10 in socks and size 81/2 for shoes.

Dad is a size 42-32 for pants and wears triple extra-large shirts, T-shirts and underwear. He takes a size 12-13 for shoes and socks and needs a triple extra-large winter coat and double extra-large for hats and gloves.

The 17-year-old boy wears a size 36-32 for pants and needs double extra-large shirts, T-shirts, underwear and winter coat. He also needs size 12-13 in both shoes and socks and extra large gloves and hats. He could use a double extra-large winter coat.

The 12-year-old girl wears size 8-10 junior for pants, shirts and T-shirts. She takes a size 9-10 for shoes and socks, a large winter coat, medium gloves and tall/slender for underwear.

Both 11-year-olds wear size 14-16 pants and need size 5 1/2 socks. They also could use a large winter coat and medium gloves.

Items for Case No. 1 may be taken to the Volunteers of America, 280 N. Main St., from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Mark donations clearly for Case No. 1. Gifts do not need to be wrapped but may be.